Something About Us

Chapter 7: Opening the Door to Uncertainty

I open the door. There is only one official this time. It is the same gruff one from before. He raises an eyebrow when he sees that Beck is with us. "I have to make sure I tell my colleague not to go to your house." I wonder why he has not told us his name. Strange. "Let's get going, we do not want to miss the aircraft."

"Aircraft?" I ask. "Yes, we will be flying to the search team's research buildings." I actually do not know where the buildings that my parents work at are located. No one who is part of the research team is allowed to tell anyone where the buildings are located. Safety precautions. I have only been on an aircraft a handful of times but I have fond memories on flying.

We walk out of the door and see that a black SUV is waiting for us. This is not the first time that this situation seems not quite right to me. I shake off the uneasy feeling hoping that this is just a side effect of the shock. The official gets in the driver's seat. There is a second official in the passanger's seat. Beck, Xander and I file into the car. I sit between Xander and Beck.

"It will take a hour to get to the air craft. If you would like, you can take a nap." The same nameless official tells us. I would like to stay awake and see where we are going. However, there is a strange material over the side windows. There is foggy black plastic separating us from the two officials. We can make out their shadows but nothing more.

I ultimately decide that taking a nap is a bad idea. Even though we can not see where we are going, I want to make sure that I know what is going on. Or at least make sure that they do not come back here and check on us without us knowing. "You guys should take a nap. I am not tired." I tell them. "What makes you think we are?" Beck asks. "I was just trying to be nice. Fine don't take a nap. I really could not care less."

Xander and Beck are sitting rigidly, staring at the foggy black plastic. Maybe they are testing us or monitoring us. We can not show any weakness. Our best bet is to act normal. I glance at Beck and smile at him. He shoots me a surprised smile in return. I scoot closer to Beck and put my arm around his shoulders. Beck tenses but that is the only reaction I get from him. I rest my head on his shoulder and look up at him. My mouth is now close enough to his ear that I can tell him something without the risk of the officials hearing. "Make small talk. Go." I whisper to him.

"My dog ate my shoe two nights ago." Beck blurts out. I give him a shocked look how could he have left his dog at his house all alone? I love dogs. I know that Xander and I can not take care of a dog with our schedules and that is why we do not have one. Otherwise, we would have a dog. "Don't worry. I left her at my friend's house when I got the message about our parents. Zuzu is fine." Beck whispers to me. For some reason I find the fact that Beck named his dog Zuzu hilarious. I burst out laughing and my eyes begin to water. "What? What is so funny?" Beck demands.

"Zuzu..." is all I manage to say. "Do not make fun of me!" Beck says. Xander has an amused look on his face. "Bro, why did you name your dog Zuzu?" "It sounded cute at the time." I realize that I still have my armed draped around Beck's shoulder. I feel my cheeks get read and I take my arm off of his shoulders. Beck's face subtly falls for one second before being replaced by his usual smirk. It is so fast that I wonder if he ever did look bothered. So annoying.

I make sure that the conversation stays light and unrelated to the fact that we are in a black SUV and have no clue where we are going. For all we know, we could be in the process of being kidnapped. I feel the SUV slowing and stop talking, Beck and Xander look alert too. The SUV stops and I hear the official's voice from the other side of the foggy black plastic. "We have arrived at the aircraft."

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I hope you liked chapter 7! I will update soon. Feel free to comment your suggestions. Have a great day. :)

- Rainbowpuff2022